Urinary catheterization is a routine intervention in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with prolonged immobility. However, extended use of urinary catheters significantly increases the risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs), posing serious healthcare concerns. Early detection of UTIs can effectively prevent disease progression and mitigate additional health complications. Most conventional diagnostic methods rely on periodic urine sample collection and laboratory analysis, which are time-consuming and lack the capacity for continuous, real-time assessment. To address these limitations, we developed a Smart Urinary Bag (SUB) system with an integrated sensor platform designed for real-time monitoring of UTI-associated biomarkers in urine directly within the urinary bag. The sensor platform incorporates two interdigitated electrode (IDE) patterns coated with stimuli-responsive polymers to selectively detect elevations in pH and xanthine oxidase (XOD) levels—two critical biomarkers for urinary infections. These IDEs connect to spiral planar coils, forming sensor tags that enable battery-free, wireless monitoring of urine conditions through near-field inductive coupling with an external reader. The sensor tags, measuring 10 cm × 6 cm, and the coating thickness were optimized using High-Frequency Structure Simulator (HFSS) software to ensure effective wireless readability and sensitivity for practical miniaturization and integration into standard urinary bags. Systematic characterization of the functional coatings confirmed effective compositions that allowed reliable wireless detection of elevated pH (>8) and XOD (>500 U/L) levels in urine, with a response time of less than 3 hours. The sensors maintained stable performance over 14 days under physiologically relevant conditions with high specificity, as verified through tests with both artificial and real urine. As proof of concept, the fully integrated SUB system was tested under simulated patient conditions with varying pH and XOD levels. The platform successfully identified high-risk UTI conditions, enabling timely alerts to healthcare providers for immediate intervention. This platform aims to enhance patient monitoring in ICUs by reducing healthcare provider burden, facilitating early identification of UTI risks, and promoting timely interventions, ultimately reducing antibiotic overuse and addressing the challenge of rising antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains.
Read full abstract